Being physically active is an important part of keeping yourself healthy. Swimming offers a great way to be active that is easy on your joints while building your muscles and cardiovascular endurance. If you want to make swimming a part of your fitness routine, there are some things you’ll need in order to get started.

A Place to Swim

The first and most important thing you need in order to make swimming a part of your fitness routine is a place where you can swim. You have a few options here. If there’s a community pool nearby, that can be a decent option to start out. Some people aren’t comfortable swimming around others though. In that case, making an investment in a private pool of your own can be a good option. If a full sized pool sounds like it’s just too much, a swim spa could be the perfect solution. They’re smaller, but they can create a current for you to swim against, making them a good option for fitness.

The Right Equipment

Once you have a place where you can swim, you’ll need to get swimming equipment. Start simple by getting a basic swimsuit. Goggles are good to pick up too, so you don’t have to worry about visibility or eye irritation. Depending on what you want to focus on exercising when you’re swimming, you can add fins, hand paddles, and kickboards to your list of equipment. If you’re just starting out, it may be better to hold off on those pieces of equipment until you’ve become accustomed to swimming regularly.

A Sensible Routine

As with any new fitness activity, it’s best to start slow when swimming for exercise. Don’t expect to be swimming for miles right off the bat. Try swimming for short periods of time and taking short breaks as you work on building up your strength and endurance. Once you’ve become accustomed to your starting pace, you can work on swimming longer and faster. Keep your increases to about 10% to avoid over-training and becoming injured as a result.

Making swimming a part of your fitness routine can be a great way to add some variety to what you’re doing already. You’ll need a place to swim, the right equipment, and a sensible routine in order to get the most out of this addition to your routine. Once you have a plan, you’ll be ready to take the plunge, so to speak.

Swim spas are an excellent addition for anyone who wants to improve their fitness by swimming. See the collection of swim spas carried by Sonoma Backyard here.